pdftk-server
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npx mdskill add github/awesome-copilot/pdftk-serverManipulate PDFs by merging, splitting, encrypting, or adding watermarks using the pdftk command-line tool.
- Handles tasks like joining documents, extracting pages, or securing files.
- Integrates with the external pdftk command-line utility for execution.
- Executes commands based on explicit requests for specific document transformations.
- Provides the resulting manipulated or analyzed PDF file to the calling process.
SKILL.md
.github/skills/pdftk-serverView on GitHub ↗
--- name: pdftk-server description: 'Skill for using the command-line tool pdftk (PDFtk Server) for working with PDF files. Use when asked to merge PDFs, split PDFs, rotate pages, encrypt or decrypt PDFs, fill PDF forms, apply watermarks, stamp overlays, extract metadata, burst documents into pages, repair corrupted PDFs, attach or extract files, or perform any PDF manipulation from the command line.' --- # PDFtk Server PDFtk Server is a command-line tool for working with PDF documents. It can merge, split, rotate, encrypt, decrypt, watermark, stamp, fill forms, extract metadata, and manipulate PDFs in a variety of ways. ## When to Use This Skill - Merging or joining multiple PDF files into one - Splitting or bursting a PDF into individual pages - Rotating PDF pages - Encrypting or decrypting PDF files - Filling PDF form fields from FDF/XFDF data - Applying background watermarks or foreground stamps - Extracting PDF metadata, bookmarks, or form field information - Repairing corrupted PDF files - Attaching or extracting files embedded in PDFs - Removing specific pages from a PDF - Collating separately scanned even/odd pages - Compressing or decompressing PDF page streams ## Prerequisites - PDFtk Server must be installed on the system - **Windows**: `winget install --id PDFLabs.PDFtk.Server` - **macOS**: `brew install pdftk-java` - **Linux (Debian/Ubuntu)**: `sudo apt-get install pdftk` - **Linux (Red Hat/Fedora)**: `sudo dnf install pdftk` - Access to a terminal or command prompt - Verify installation by running `pdftk --version` ## Step-by-Step Workflows ### Merge Multiple PDFs ```bash pdftk file1.pdf file2.pdf cat output merged.pdf ``` Using handles for more control: ```bash pdftk A=file1.pdf B=file2.pdf cat A B output merged.pdf ``` ### Split a PDF into Individual Pages ```bash pdftk input.pdf burst ``` ### Extract Specific Pages Extract pages 1-5 and 10-15: ```bash pdftk input.pdf cat 1-5 10-15 output extracted.pdf ``` ### Remove Specific Pages Remove page 13: ```bash pdftk input.pdf cat 1-12 14-end output output.pdf ``` ### Rotate Pages Rotate all pages 90 degrees clockwise: ```bash pdftk input.pdf cat 1-endeast output rotated.pdf ``` ### Encrypt a PDF Set an owner password and a user password with 128-bit encryption (default): ```bash pdftk input.pdf output secured.pdf owner_pw mypassword user_pw userpass ``` ### Decrypt a PDF Remove encryption using the known password: ```bash pdftk secured.pdf input_pw mypassword output unsecured.pdf ``` ### Fill a PDF Form Populate form fields from an FDF file and flatten to prevent further edits: ```bash pdftk form.pdf fill_form data.fdf output filled.pdf flatten ``` ### Apply a Background Watermark Place a single-page PDF behind every page of the input (input should have transparency): ```bash pdftk input.pdf background watermark.pdf output watermarked.pdf ``` ### Stamp an Overlay Place a single-page PDF on top of every page of the input: ```bash pdftk input.pdf stamp overlay.pdf output stamped.pdf ``` ### Extract Metadata Export bookmarks, page metrics, and document information: ```bash pdftk input.pdf dump_data output metadata.txt ``` ### Repair a Corrupted PDF Pass a broken PDF through pdftk to attempt automatic repair: ```bash pdftk broken.pdf output fixed.pdf ``` ### Collate Scanned Pages Interleave separately scanned even and odd pages: ```bash pdftk A=even.pdf B=odd.pdf shuffle A B output collated.pdf ``` ## Troubleshooting | Issue | Solution | |-------|----------| | `pdftk` command not found | Verify installation; check that pdftk is in your system PATH | | Cannot decrypt PDF | Ensure you are providing the correct owner or user password via `input_pw` | | Output file is empty or corrupt | Check input file integrity; try running `pdftk input.pdf output repaired.pdf` first | | Form fields not visible after fill | Use the `flatten` flag to merge fields into the page content | | Watermark not appearing | Ensure the input PDF has transparent regions; use `stamp` for opaque overlays | | Permission denied errors | Check file permissions on input and output paths | ## References Bundled reference documents in the `references/` folder: - [pdftk-man-page.md](references/pdftk-man-page.md) - Complete manual reference with all operations, options, and syntax - [pdftk-cli-examples.md](references/pdftk-cli-examples.md) - Practical command-line examples for common tasks - [download.md](references/download.md) - Installation and download instructions for all platforms - [pdftk-server-license.md](references/pdftk-server-license.md) - PDFtk Server licensing information - [third-party-materials.md](references/third-party-materials.md) - Third-party library licenses